53 world-class show-jumping horses flown from Calgary to Liège

Qatar Airways Cargo flew 53 show jumping horses from Calgary, Canada, to Liège in Belgium last week on a special charter for its global client DB Schenker.

The world-class show-jumping horses had participated in the annual Spruce Meadows Summer Series in Calgary, and every effort was made to ensure the horses were transported with the utmost care to Liège where they will be training to participate in the World Equestrian Games (WEG) being held in Normandy next month.

- Horses are sensitive animals and they generally have a high value,” said Ulrich Ogiermann, Chief Officer Cargo for Qatar Airways.

- They require special care during all phases of transportation, and a smooth and comfortable journey is essential to keep the horses stress-free.

- All Qatar Airways Cargo staff attend various training courses in animal handling, and our personalized service, high quality of operation, and excellent record of on-time delivery make us a prime carrier for the transportation of live animals.”

Qatar Airways Cargo transports all kinds of animals in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animal Regulations. Horses are transported primarily between the Middle East and Europe, and between Europe and the U.S.A. Unlike pets such as cats and dogs, horses cannot be transported in the lower deck of regular passenger planes. They must be flown on dedicated freighters and require special containers that can fit up to three horses side-by-side.

These special containers, also known as “air stables” or “horse-stalls”, are specifically constructed for the horses to ensure that they are safe while on the aircraft.

From January 2012 through to July 2014, Qatar Airways Cargo has transported more than 1,900 horses all around the world.

On 1 December 2013, the first Qatar Airways Cargo shipment was received at the new cargo facility at Hamad International Airport. This enormous, state-of-the-art facility, spanning 55,000 square metres, contains a perishables storage area, live animal centre and dangerous goods area, among other key facilities. The new world-class self-contained terminal can handle 1.4 million tonnes of cargo per annum.

Qatar Airways Cargo also completed the transition from a manually handled cargo environment to a fully automated cargo terminal at Hamad International Airport. The step-change from the original manual system has been significant and all importers and clearing agents in Doha now benefit from an enhanced delivery system for all their cargo.
The brand new cargo terminal at Hamad International Airport offers state-of-the-art modern technology and a five-star service to customers around the globe.